Environmental & Public Law Barrister

Services

Resource Management Law

Clare has extensive Resource Management Law experience including running cases for both applicants and submitters, ranging from the complex (seeking 30 resource consents from different agencies for the Cleddau Flood Protection project at Milford Sound; a reference on a proposed Coastal Plan involving 12 witnesses), to the more mundane.

Cleddau River and Milford Sound Village flood protection works RMA consents (district and regional) – a $12 million project.

Numerous contentious 1080 hearings for both the West Coast (3) and Southland (3), for brodificaum drop applications (on outlying islands), for an application to aerially spray wildling pines, for wharves at Deep Water Basin Milford Sound/Piopiotahi.

Counsel for DOC on the Meridian Manapouri Te Anau Development consent.

Conservation & Tourism Law

After working for the Department of Conservation for 15 years, Clare has an intimate knowledge of the concessions regime of the Conservation Act (leases, licences, permits and easements and tendering of concessions), Conservation Management Strategies and Management Plans, and all aspects of the various pieces of legislation and principles relating to public conservation land. Clare has provided advice on a number of large scale concession applications and concession tenders (where there is a limited opportunity for a particular activity), Reserves Act issues, marine mammals legislation, marine reserves and wild animal control issues.

Emissions Trading Scheme (Forestry)

Clare has provided advice on the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme in relation to forestry and pre-1990 and post-1989 land and was involved in preparing and calling for tenders for establishing carbon forest sinks on land managed by the Department of Conservaiton.

Legislation

Clare has provided advice on a wide variety of legislation but has particular expertise in the following:

Training

Clare has compiled and delivered a number of training packages over the years both for central government and private clients including:

Administrative Law/Judicial Review/good decision making

Contracts and tendering

Compliance and law enforcement

Official Information Act 1982 and Privacy Act 1993

Concessions and concession tendering

Carbon sink farming on land managed by the Department of Conservation and the Emissions Trading Scheme

Resource Management Act 1991

Independent Hearing Commissioner

Clare was certified as an independent RMA hearing commissioner in January 2013 and has now completed a number of hearings for local authorities.

Local Government

Clare has provided advice to local authorities on Reserves Act management plans and has an indepth knowledge on the law relating to unformed legal roads.

Testimonials

“Clare’s written advice is thorough, carefully constructed, easy to read and timely. Clare pays attention to detail and explores issues in a measured way. Clare’s work for the Commission as counsel was excellent. Clare is adept at assessing the merits of evidence and arguments, was respectful to all parties at the hearing while strongly and articulately advancing the Commission’s case. Clare was skilled at developing and framing her arguments and used these skills to co-ordinate expert witnesses and guide them in drafting statements of evidence.”

MARK NEESON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NEW ZEALAND WALKING ACCESS COMMISSION

“I have worked with Clare for over ten years, five of which she was a direct report to me.

Clare is a clever and talented solicitor and she is conscientious, proactive, focussed and always exploring and finding the way she can add most value to the business.”

“Clare provided excellent, and clear, written and oral advice. We were quickly able to develop a relationship through phone calls and e-mail. I found Clare’s manner to be professional, astute and friendly. She was prompt in providing advice.”

CHRISTINE JACOBSON, SENIOR POLICY ANALYST, PORIRUA CITY COUNCIL

“It is very helpful to have Clare cut through legal jargon and issues. Clare also makes sure the ‘i’s are dotted and the ‘t’s crossed.”